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HDTV Overview
High-definition television (HDTV) offers
advantages today while providing incredible potential for the
future. Although it won't reach its full potential for some time
there are many reasons why you should consider being HDTV-ready
when you make your next viewing entertainment purchase.
 The
standards for HDTV are still being worked out, but it is generally
agreed that in order to be considered HDTV or HDTV-ready, the
monitor or projector must display either 720p or 1080i vertical
resolution and be wide-screen 16:9.
Let's see what that means
and compare it to the dominant standard for TV today
The
original National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) settled
on an aspect ratio of 4:3 with just over 480 lines for the picture,
using interlaced resolution. The 4:3 means that the screen is
4 units wide for every 3 units tall. Interlaced means that half
the lines are displayed for 1/60th of a second and the other
half for 1/60th of a second. This means the full frame is displayed
in 1/30th of a second.
Compare
that to the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) standards
for HDTV with 1080i displaying 1080 lines interlaced or 720p
(progressive scanning) with 720 lines displaying the full frame
at once in 1/30th of a second. The 16:9 means that the screen
is 16 units wide for every 9 units tall. This gives you a closer
approximation to the wide-screen in your local movie theater.
 The ATSC is responsible
for digital television standards and development including 18
formats for digital television. All but the accepted formats
for HDTV are beyond the scope of this feature.
When
looking at the picture quality it is also important to look at
the pixel size. The old NTSC format uses pixels that are rectangular.
They are a little taller than they are wide. The HDTV format
uses square pixels, which helps create a sharper image. They
are also four and one half times smaller than the old NTSC format.
This gives you four and one half times better detail for a given
area.
One
of the best reasons to be HDTV-ready is the DVD. DVD looks great
on a regular TV but it looks even better on your HDTV-ready display.
DVDs are growing faster in popularity than VHS or even color
TV ever did and is proving to be the largest motivating factor
for buying HDTV-ready today.
 
HDTV programming
Choices
for HDTV programming are growing but there are many things that
have to be hammered out between the various entertainment providers.
Although HDTV will be broadcast on UHF channels, many households
rely on satellite or cable. There is no mandate for digital conversion
for cable providers but many are transitioning to digital on
a voluntary basis or because of franchise agreements.
HDTV can be broadcast
over an analog signal and is currently broadcast this way in
Japan. The US and Canada have decided to switch over to HDTV
and digital broadcasting at the same time. Interactive TV and
the ability to optimize bandwidth are just two advantages. Digital
signals do not cause ghosting or reduction in picture quality
because of distance such as with analog signals.
HDTV sound
HDTV also uses Dolby A3 as its
sound standard, also known as (5.1) surround-sound. Dolby A3
gives you three front channels left, center and right as well
as rear left and right. The .1 represents the low-frequency subwoofer
channel, which accents the low-frequency effects that help you
feel the sound. Home theater sound systems are continually lowering
in price and compliment the HDTV picture to complete your system.
Connections
When
considering your HDTV system you must check the video connections
for compatibility. Composite or S-Video connections cannot adequately
pass the resolution associated with HDTV so it is important to
choose a display system with component, RGB, 15 pin D-shell or DVI
connections.
Let's look at an
example installation of the Sanyo PLV-60HT HDTV-ready front projection
system
This is one example installation.
It is meant to illustrate the setup and wiring of the system
in general. If you are not sure about the construction of your
walls you should consult with a licensed electrician for more
specific information about your installation choices.
After
selecting the best placement for the projector screen, all the
measurements were taken to assure proper clearance for the surround
speakers. It is important to check the projector's zoom range
at the intended distance to determine the screen size. The PLV-60
has a zoom range of 77" to 100" at 11.5' away. (click for full specs) The intended projector shelf distance is 11.5'
from the screen. The projector shelf used in this feature is
custom however a ceiling bracket for the PLV-60 is available
The
screen size for our installation is 80" wide by 45"
tall but with the wall mounted frame and border, the total size
comes to 84" wide by 49" tall. Holes were drilled through
the metal frame and marks were made while holding it in place.
Sheetrock anchors were installed and the bracket was screwed
into place. The screen fabric was then held tight and snapped
onto the frame. For information on other screen types or configurations:
Click
here
There
was a drop ceiling in the larger side of the family room, which
was removed giving us a clear path to run all of the wiring.
After wiring, a sheetrock ceiling was installed
The left photograph above shows the audio
wires stapled to the beams between the furring strips while the
right photograph shows a closer look at the projector wiring
leading from the ceiling shelf area to the equipment shelf location.
The cable ends for the projector and components exit through
utility boxes in the ceiling and back wall of the equipment shelf.
Power receptacles were moved to accommodate the equipment, including
a receptacle installed in the ceiling above the projector shelf.
The projector shelf front brackets were located at the intended
11.5' from the screen and are approximately 1' from ceiling to
shelf.
Pass your
mouse over the diagram to reveal the labels
The
diagram above shows the audio wire key left and the video cable
key right. All possible video cables were run to the projector
shelf in order to connect a variety of components.
Let's take a close look at
the connections
The
illustration above shows the side connector panel of the PLV-60.
The
photograph above shows the cable ends of the various cable types.
The
photograph above shows the various components on the equipment
shelf. There are choices for connecting the various video connections.
The HDTV receiver however must use a connection other than composite
or S-Video.
Note: Composite and S-Video
connections are not capable of carrying HDTV signal. HDTV receivers
will use one of the other connections. It is important to make
sure that the display or projector and HDTV receiver have a compatible
connection.
The
photograph above shows a close-up of the projector shelf.
Video connections used for
this installation
DVD
- Component
HDTV
cable receiver - Component 2 (some use 15 pin D-shell RGB or DVI)
Note: Digital cable does
not equal HDTV. It uses a lower quality digital signal yet still
offers a superior picture quality when compared to the original
analog NTSC standard. Gone is ghosting, due to a weak signal,
as well as screen artifacts (unwanted visible effects)
Let's look at photographs
of the finished installation
The
photograph above shows the screen and front surround speakers
including the embedded bass (.1) speaker below.
The
photograph above shows the screen from the side. The aluminum-mounting
frame is visible.
The
photograph above shows the rear left and right surround speakers
mounted on the ceiling, the equipment shelf on the left and projector
shelf above.
The
photograph above shows a wider rear view.
The
photograph above shows the poster wall
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If you would
like to purchase the Sanyo PLV-60 or any other HDTV-ready system
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HDTV Feature based on the Sanyo PLV-60HT
